Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
-
Epidural sufentanil was administered to 57 women after Caesarean section, under epidural anaesthesia, to provide postoperative analgesia. Each patient received a 30 micrograms dose at the first complaint of pain and this dose was repeated when pain recurred. Epinephrine (1:200,000) was added to the local anaesthetic, sufentanil, both, or neither. ⋯ Respiratory depression, as defined by a respiratory rate less than 10 bpm, was not observed. A number of patients noted a transient period of euphoria 5-8 min after administration of the epidural sufentanil. The authors feel that epidural sufentanil provides satisfactory analgesia after Caesarean section, but the brief duration of action and the high incidence of drowsiness limit its acceptability for routine use in obstetric patients.